A Study Based on Community Assets

Community Development in Huanchaquito:

A Study Based on Community Assets

by

Rebecca Smith

Sarah Cozzens

Diana Call

Justin Burk

and

Pedro Anhuamán

UtahStateUniversity

Ethnographic Fieldschool

Huanchaco, Peru

June 12-July 14 2006

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would first like to thank the community members of the town of Huanchaquito for their graciousness. They have treated us with such kindness. We would especially like to thank Raul Venegas-Tavara and his father Raul Venegas for helping us gain entry into the community. We would also like to thank Pedro Anhuamán Gordillo for helping us in every way imaginable; from teaching us traditional fishing techniques to his contribution to the writing of this document. We also thank others in the community who have helped us with surveys, planning meetings, and learning about Huanchaquito in general. We name them here: Adelfio Gordillo Piminchumo, Nuri Luz Acevedo Ibanez, Paula Gonzalez, and Victor Fernández. We thank Yenny Villacorta and her family for their support in obtaining a place for holding meetings and for the use of their mobile megaphones for getting people to attend our town meeting. Finally, we would like to thank all of the students involved in the EthnographicFieldSchool from UtahStateUniversity and Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin, for giving us this opportunity and from whom we have learned so much.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Who We Are
3. Overview of Asset Based Development
4. Study Area
5. Methodology
6. Introduction
7. Timeline
8. Tools
9. Process
10. Roles
11. Events and Experiences
12. Evaluation
13. Findings
14. Product
15. Conclusion
16. Appendix

I. Introduction

The four of us came to Peru five weeks ago as students from UtahStateUniversity in the United States of America, with high hopes and big dreams of making a difference in the world. We have toiled to learn and teach a new kind of development, a kind we knew nothing of a few months ago. The purpose was to bring this community to an awakened state of their assets and their capabilities, to empower them. In our journey to accomplish this, we have learned a great deal about our own assets and capabilities, but we have also learned about a people and a place. We would have failed without the help of so many members of the community and we leave this project and its products with them to empower them to continue this work. We hope we have changed them as much as they have changed us. This study strives to demonstrate what we have done, how we have done it and most of all what we have learned. We came as students, we have left as friends.

Who We Are

Rebecca Smith - I was born in Maryland. Currently, I am a PHD student at UtahStateUniversity. Previously, I obtained a Bachelors degree in Foreign Languages and Pedigogy at FrostburgStateUniversity. I also obtained a Masters degree in Spanish at West VirginiaUniversity and a Masters degree in Sociology at UtahStateUniversity. I came to Peru in order to learn more about community development and how it can be of use in Latin America. Given that Peru has so many natural and human resources, I believe it is important that we apply asset-based development to small towns in Latin America and to teach this new development model to the members of those towns in which human resources abound.

Sarah Cozzens- I was born and raised in Sandy, Utah. I am currently attending college at UtahStateUniversity in Logan, Utah where I am double majoring in Public Relations and Sociology. I am also receiving certificates in Women and Gender Studies and Piano. I wanted to come to Peru to learn how to do research and to learn more about women and gender abroad, to enable me to get the education I need to complete research in other countries. Instead of fulfilling my own desires, I have come to learn a great deal about the people here and the assets that they posses. I hope that I have helped someone here to learn as much about the difference their assets can make as I have.

Diana Call - I was born in the United States. I grew up in Brigham City, Utah with my mom, dad, sister and dog. I just earned my Bachelors degree in Anthropology from UtahStateUniversity. I am excited to be here in Peru. I am here to learn about ethnographies, community development, Spanish, and the Peruvian people. I have loved my time here, and I hope our work here and our project has helped the people in Huanchaquito.

Justin Burk - I was born in Illinois. I am studying Anthropology at UtahStateUniversity. I fell in love with Peru when I took a class on Peoples of Latin America from Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin. The class motivated me to want to come here and learn more about Peru. Specifically, I wanted to come to study the music, the food, and the chicha of the Andes.

Overview of Asset-Based Development

For this project we used a community development guide that was created in collaboration with the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. CARI’s approach entitled, “Vitalizing Communities: Building on Assets and Mobilizing for Collective Action,” focuses on positive assets, the community’s individuals, associations, institutions, and economy. Focusing on community problems conveys negative images of the community, and residents begin to accept these images as the only guide to the reality of their lives (Allen et al 2002). Focusing on positive asset components helps build the community by giving residents hope and a positive vision for themselves (Allen et al 2002). Traditionally, this model has been used in rural communities in the United States and attempts to build communities from the inside out, utilizing existing assets. Given the fact that communities in Peru differ in many ways from those in the United States, we adapted the model for our work in Peru.

In order to build on community assets and to mobilize for collective action, it is necessary to inventorythe assets that exist within the community. According to Allen et al (2002), every community can identify things it does not have (needs), and things it does have (assets). However, a strong community is built upon identifying and then mobilizing its assets. In terms of assets, it is necessary to inventory individual skills, local associations and institutions, natural resources and businesses. The model suggests that by bringing these assets into relationship with one another their capacities can be enhanced. The central idea is that relationships will be built and mobilization for collective action can occur when relationships within a community are organized. In order to organize the community, the model requires that a local “table” of people be established. The “table” is made up of a diverse group of individuals from the community and should be committed to the same vision and purpose in order to carry forward the work of identifying assets, brainstorming possible projects for community development and mobilizing the individuals, associations, institutions and other links that will work together to complete the project. In short, asset-based community development is based on building relationships, identifying assets and taking action for the betterment of the community.

III. Study Area

We present a brief summary of Huanchaquito’s history, principal assets as they relate to tourism.

Huanchaquito is situated in the lower right part of the MocheValley, 10 kilometers northeast of Trujillo and in the southwest sector of the district of Huanchaco. It is 7856 square kilometers in size and is the second largest population center in the district.

Huanchaquito’s pre-Hispanic origins relate to the arqueological period known as the Early Formative of Peruvian Culture, which is estimated to be between 3,500 and 4,000 years old. This makes it one of the earliest pre-columbian settlements in the region of La Libertad and the northern coast of Peru. Located in Huanchaquito, behind the municipal building, is El Gramalote, an archaelogical site of approximately two hectorsthat has been studied by North American investigators. The semi-buried remains are the oldest to have been discovered in the district of Huanchaco and correspond to the Cupisnique culture, the ancestors of the Chavin culture. News of the most recent findings (Sept-Oct 2005) has spread around the world.

Today’s Huanchaquito has its origins in the Republic of the last decades of the XIX century, with the exact date of its first occupation by fishing families from Huanchaco still unknown. These fishing families migrated to the area looking for new and better fishing areas and beaches. However imprecise these chronological references may be (establishment in 1890), it is known that one of the oldest inhabitants was Don Manuel Piminchumo Cumpa, who together with his wife Juana Palma, settled in the extreme south of Huanchaquito, near the Huaca de Barro Colorado which today belongs to the Victor Larco District. According to his grandchildren and other old fishermen, Don Manuel Piminchumo was a sailor on the Huascar de Grau and after El Combate de Angamos in 1879 returned to live in Huanchaquito.

Also from this first generation of fisher families are: Mercedes Chilmaza-Cruz Beltran; Antonio Gordillo-Narcisa Segura; Cecilio Venegas-Josefina Beltran; Juan Piminchumo-Anita Beltran; Evaristo Piminchumo-Asunciona Gordillo; Manuel Piminchumo-Margarita Venegas; Francisco Venegas-Rosario Arroyo; Santiago Venegas-Dominga Piminchumo; and Jose de la Rosa Piminchumo-Petronila Venegas.

At present, Huanchaquito is a tourist destination that has not been well promoted and many are unaware of its natural goodness and economic potential. Given its location, the development of ecological and cultural tourism in Huanchaquito is a possibility. Huanchaquito has extensive beach and temperate climate, which has been recommended by doctors for the prevention of, treatment, and curing of respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Another natural resource of interest is the Totora reeds that continue to be cultivated in this area. There is still one house in Huanchaquito that is made completely of these reeds and cane. The fishing that takes place is practiced in much the same way as the Moche-Chimu fished, with sewn nets and boats made of totora reeds. Fishing from the shore occurs on ocassion as well, something that is not done even in the nearby fishing town of Huanchaco.

Huanchaquito has numerous restaurants, many in Huanchaquito Bajo that face the ocean, but it is also possible to enjoy typical dishes and chicha de jora (traditional corn beer) in the homes of fishermen. There are also three hotels in the bathing resort area with transportation available to the surrounding areas and the airport.

Other activities include religious festivals involving fireworks, dance contests, and traditional food. Some of these festivals include the celebration of crosses on May 3, the San Pedro Festival on June 29, and the festival of the Apostle Santiago on July 25.

IV. Methodology

Introduction

As previously stated, asset-based development is a concept that has not yet been practiced in Latin America. We were introduced to this model by its founder, Dr. John Allen, prior to this field school and were able to change our ideas and expectations for this project accordingly. Because the model was new to us as well as to the area, it took a lot of work and careful planning to create a project that would incorporate the model, as well as pertain to the area. This section describes this process; the who, what, where, when, why and how of everything we have done in Huanchaquito.

Timeline

June 12 – First day of FieldSchool

June 13 – Mapping of our own assets

Separate into groups depending on assets

June 14 – First day in Huanchaquito (Justin, Becca, Diana and Tamara)

Met Raul’s father

Met the Mayor of Huanchaquito, Adelfio Gordillo Piminchumo

Spatially mapped the town

June 19 – Second trip to Huanchaquito (Justin and Becca)

Met Linda at Bodega Wendy

June 20 – Third trip to Huanchaquito (Justin, Becca, Sarah and Diana)

Met Luz, Raul Sr.’s wife

Met Elena, the mother of the President of the Mothers’ Club

Met with the Mayor, told him of our project plan

Met Pedro Anhuamán, the author of the history of Huanchaquito

Met Pedro’s parents

Explained project and intentions to Pedro

June 21 – Fourth trip to Huanchaquito (Justin, Becca and Sarah)

Picked up Raul Sr.

Met the Mayor and Pedro at the municipality building

Met the President of City Security, Paula Gonzales

Met the President of the Health Committee, Nuri Luz Acevedo-Ibanez

Gave out our first surveys to Paula and Nuri

Pedro took us to see important places in Huanchaquito and explained a

lot of the history (new ruins, house of totoras, etc.)

June 22 – Fifth trip to Huanchaquito (Justin, Becca, Sarah and Diana)

Met Victor Alvarez Jacobo, a building inspector, and surveyed him

Met with Paula for her to help us collect surveys

Met Dionicia Reyes, El Caracol restaurant owner, and surveyed her

Met Richard Isla Gonzales, a 17-year-old electrician, and surveyed him

Met Anna Dominguez Vigo, bodega owner and accountant, and her

family and surveyed her

Met Jose Chungui, a 17-year-old student, and surveyed him

June 23 – Sixth trip to Huanchaquito (Justin, Becca, Sarah and Justin)

Met up with Paula and Nuri

They took us to see the HealthBuilding that is abandoned

Met Ana Maria Vega Ahón, the owner of Anita del Mar but who works

at Miramar, her mother’s restaurant, and surveyed her

Met Claudio Gordillo Venegas, a 65-year-old cook who also owns a

small store in front of his house, and surveyed him

Saw the old school and totorales

Met Graciela Chilmaza Venegas, a 71-year-old woman, and surveyed

her

June 27 – Seventh trip to Huanchaquito (Becca, Sarah, Diana and Bonnie)

Met with Pedro and the Mayor, further explained our purposes

Met Victor Fernandez, a new candidate for mayor, and gave him a

bunch of surveys to complete

Went with Pedro to see the Association of Artisans and the checos they

have been making

Later that evening, we attended Mass at the Huanchaquito church

Met Yenny Villacorta and Angie, Paula’s niece

June 28 – Festival of San Pedro (Justin, Becca, Diana and Sarah)

Talked to Ana about sandwiches for our meeting

Tried to round up surveys

Returned later for Mass, Fireworks and a Dance

June 29 – Festival of San Pedro (Justin, Becca, Diana and Sarah)

Met with Ana about sandwiches

Met her brother Julio, who was very interested in our project

Procession of San Pedro

Ate lunch with Nuri and Paula

Watched the Marinera dance competition

Met the Villacorta family

Passed out fliers and hung up posters for the meeting

June 30 – The Meeting (Justin, Becca, Diana and Sarah)

Prepared for the meeting all morning

Went to Huanchaquito to set up

Introduced project

Split into work groups to develop assets, update information and

combine community efforts for the future

Discussed, gave out prizes and food, and elected new committee

July 2 – Volunteer at the Health Clinic (Becca, Diana and Sarah)

Met and talked with Villacorta family

Yenny took us to Huanchaquito Alto to the health clinic Nuri was in

charge of

July 5 – Second meeting with committee in Huanchaquito

Elected offices

Developed first project idea

July 6 – Fishing with Pedro from the shore

July 8 – Birthday Party at Yenny Villacorta’s home

July 10 – Went to Huanchaquito to pass out fliers and invitations for meeting

July 11 – Final meeting and part with committee

July 12 – Final meeting with all sectors and grand party

Tools

Our biggest tool for this project was John Allen’s model. We were able to use versions of several of his worksheets, including one that tried to find businesses in the community, one to incorporate committees within the community and one that invited people to list and think about things they purchase and where they are buying them from. The biggest tool we used, however, was the survey of assets.

The survey is an in-depth questionnaire to discover assets that people may have, assets that might not otherwise be acknowledged or recognized. Dr. Allen had used the survey many times in his development projects, but we knew we had to translate it into Spanish and were concerned about the pertinence it would have to Huanchaquito and the surrounding areas. We knew we needed to revamp the survey, and began a careful process to make sure it would be as useful to the community as possible.

We first gave the survey to John Efio, a native from Huanchaco who has been helping us in our efforts, particularly with technology and other resources. He was able to do a rough translation of Dr. Allen’s survey, taking the survey directly from Dr. Allen’s model and translating in into Spanish.

Next, John, Becca and a native Peruvian with us from UtahState named Sandra, worked together on revising and polishing the translation. They were able to cut some of the questions or assets out that didnot pertain to the area, and add some that many people have.

Then, we gave the survey to four people from Huanchaco. Meche, Pepe, Renae and Wilfredo worked together with Becca and Sandra to make the survey even more applicable. They worked to help combine categories, add important assets, and, most of all, polish the translation so that it could be easily understood by the people.